Nick DiNunzio sits next to a sign he placed on his yard in front of his house on Monday, Oct. 28, 2013 in Detroit. / Timothy Galloway, Detroit Free Press

by Ann Zaniewski, Detroit Free Press

by Ann Zaniewski, Detroit Free Press

DETROIT -- Nick DiNunzio saw only three trick-or-treaters last Halloween.

This year, he's hoping to have a lot less leftover candy.

DiNunzio is working to bring Halloween back to Alma Street, which is in one of Detroit's most crime-ridden areas.

Concerns about safety have dampened the neighborhood's holiday spirit in recent years. Fewer residents have been passing out candy to a smaller number of trick-or-treaters.

Last week, DiNunzio went door to door and convinced nearly 20 of his neighbors on a two-block stretch to keep their porch lights turned on and bowlfuls of treats by their front doors. He offered to buy candy for his neighbors who can't afford it, and even put a giant sign about Halloween in his front yard.

When some people told DiNunzio their porch lights weren't working, he replaced the bulbs.

"We just got a little bit discouraged because nobody would come by. It got fewer and fewer every year," DiNunzio said. "These kids, most of them are coming from challenging circumstances in their homes. They deserve some happiness, and I think maybe this can make them happy."

DiNunzio, who used to own a bar and now works part time as a sign maker, contacted local businesses to find out which ones would be welcoming trick-or-treaters. He put their names - Family Dollar, Dollar General, Sav-A-Lot and others - on the sign in front of his house.

"Halloween is for the kids," the sign says, urging people to put on their porch lights, give out treats, dress their kids up "and take them out for a nite of fun."

DiNunzio was a toddler when his family moved in 1940 , near Hayes and Houston Whittier.

As a boy, he joined 50 or 60 other trick-or-treaters on his block.

"I remember when the street used to be lit up with everybody participating," DiNunzio said. "Porch lights on all over the place."

"There's still a lot of good people in this neighborhood. We just got overwhelmed with crime," said Lee Meriweather, 52, DiNunzio's neighbor. "Some people are reluctant to open their doors (on Halloween). There are so many home invasions around here that I don't really blame them."

To make sure both children and residents feel safe, Meriweather plans to patrol the street on Halloween. His 5-month-old grandson, Sean Eric Lackey Jr., and 4-year-old granddaughter, Harmony Lackey, who plans to dress up like the doctor she wants to be one day, will be among the trick-or-treaters.

"My granddaughter is very important to me, and Halloween is very important to her," Meriweather said. "I was very enthused about getting on board with this whole idea to make it safe for the children."

The ZIP code that Alma is in, 48205, has had a reputation in recent years as being among the city's most crime-ridden areas. In September 2011, federal authorities initiated an effort to clamp down on gun crimes there. Six months later, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade responded to violence by announcing a federal crackdown on the entire east side.

Still, DiNunzio said his two blocks of Alma have held up pretty well. He said he decided not to move away because he likes the spirit and resiliency of the people who live there. Neighbors look out for one another.

"They just won't quit," DiNunzio said. "Some of them express fear, but some of them say, 'They're not going to scare me out of here.' I can't leave people like that. These are decent people."

Virginia Willis, 58, runs an in-home day care on Alma. She said she's excited about the effort to revive Halloween.

"I'll be passing out candy, chips and juice," she said. "I plan to have enough for about 40 or 50 kids."

Meriweather also is optimistic. "We get so many bad reports about Detroit and our surrounding communities," he said. "Something like this might be the spark that we need to help our communities get back up."